419 scam: "Compliments of the day" ATTENTION

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "necessary legal documents" (this will cost you money - be careful with upfront payments to anyone you only know through email, especially if they promise you a lot of money. NEVER send money by Western Union or MoneyGram to people you do not know personally - NO EXCEPTIONS! Instant wire transfer services are not meant to be used with strangers because they offer no protection against fraud. That is precisely why the criminals want you send money that way. )
- "huge deposit" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "united state dollar" (this email uses bad English)
This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: "Compliments of the day" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <williamsleo@yahoo.cn>
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2010 10:56:15 +0800
Subject: ATTENTION

Compliments of the day,

I am Mr. Williams Leo of A. Williams & Co. Solicitors. I have a client Mr. Jeffrey, who bears the same last name with you and a national of your Country who used to work with Concordia Concepts Limited, United Kingdom. On the 22nd of May 2005, my client, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Manchester Express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost their lives.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client's extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the internet, to locate any member of his family but of no avail, hence I contacted you. I have contacted you to assist me in repatriating the money left behind by my late client before they got confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where these huge deposits were lodged. Particularly, the bank where the deceased had the deposit valued about Six Million Five Hundred and Seventy Thousand United State dollars (US$6,570,000.00) has issued me a notice to provide the next-of- kin or have the deposit confiscated.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating his relatives for over three (3) years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased so that the proceeds of this deposit valued about (US$6,570,000.00) can be paid to you and then you and I can share the deposit 70% to me and 30% for you. I will work out all the necessary legal documents that can be used to back up this claim. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by my secured and confidential email address immediately you acknowledge the good receipt of this message.

Anticipating your prompt response.

Best regards,
Mr. Williams Leo

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam